New South Wales · Attraction
Bogey Hole
Australia's oldest ocean pool
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Carved into the sandstone shelf at the foot of King Edward Park's cliffs around 1820, the Bogey Hole holds the distinction of being one of the first European-built ocean pools on the NSW coast. Convicts hewed it by hand on the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel James Morisset, then Newcastle's commandant, for his private bathing use. Today it is a State Heritage-listed public swimming spot where waves surge over the rim to refresh the pool, creating an exhilarating and historic swim.
The pool measures roughly 10 metres long by 6.5 metres wide with an average depth of 1.5 metres, hewn from the same wave-cut rock platform that fringes the base of Shepherds Hill. Its name is thought to derive from a local Aboriginal word for to bathe. By 1863 it had passed to public ownership under Newcastle Borough Council, which substantially enlarged it in 1884.
The Bogey Hole was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in November 2003 and is described as probably the earliest extant European-built structure in Newcastle. The Greek Orthodox community has held its traditional Blessing of the Waters ceremony here since the 1950s, adding another layer of cultural significance to the site.
Access is via a short path descending from the King Edward Park carpark off York Drive, or via Shortland Esplanade. Conditions can be rough when the swell is large, as ocean swells wash directly over the pool walls. There is no lifeguard patrol, so swimmers should assess ocean conditions carefully before entering.
Scenic views
